Optimising healthcare for men who have sex with men: A role for general practitioners

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are well placed to identify patients who are at risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection, including men who have sex with men (MSM). Hence, GPs play a vital role in facilitating MSM with HIV to gain early access to HIV treatment, which will also help to reduce HIV transmission rate.

Objectives: This article provides a summary of current management issues when providing primary care for MSM, such as HIV testing and treatment, biomedical HIV prevention strategies, and current trends in other sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

Discussion: In order for MSM to receive optimal care in general practice,questions about sexual history need to be a routine part of clinical care. Those individuals who are found to be at risk of HIV infection should be offered regular HIV testing and access to risk-reduction strategies such as pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Patients who are diagnosed with HIV should be offered early access to HIV treatment, and regular screening for STIs and hepatitis C.